Problem Starting in Park

BenB90XJ

New Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2010
Location
Fayetteville, NC
Hi guys! I've had my 1990 XJ Cherokee Laredo 4x4, 4.0 inline 6 cyl. and auto tranny, for a little over a year now. I've had a few problems but nothing that I couldn't handle until now.
For the last few months, my Jeep hasn't started very well in park, never in neutral. I would have to push the shifter up, putting more pressure in the park position in order for the engine to turn over and start. Now, no matter how hard I push, the engine will not turn over, much less start. My guess would be that the Neutral Safety Switch has gone out but, I'm not sure. The part costs about $200.00 new and I don't really have the money, right now, for it. Esspecially and it not be the problem.
My questions are:
Has anyone here ever had this problem and was it the NSS that was bad?
Is there anything else that would cause it?
Thanks in advance,
Ben
 
My son's XJ did something similar, it was the switch. For a temporary fix we jumpered the switch connection. We followed the wires from the NSS to the connector under the hood, unplugged the connector, put a piece of paper clip between the terminal holes, taped it up and he ran it that way for several months. CARFEFUL, it WILL start in any gear :)
 
Thanks for the help guys.

Update:
I was going to try cleaning the NSS however, like RenegadeT said, it is hard to get to. So, I tried JC's suggestion except with a piece of aluminum foil. I took the connector loose and covered the female end with the foil and plugged it back in. It works better than it ever has. I'm not sure how long it will work but, if it lasts long enough for me to get the new NSS that will be fine with me.

Thanks again,
Ben
 
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